Lest we forget: The nation falls silent as millions pay tribute in Armistice Day commemorations across Britain

Millions of Britons fell silent today to remember those who have died in war.

As the clock struck 11am, the nation paused to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day, when peace returned to Europe at the end of the First World War.

The agreement between Germany and the Allies after four years of fighting took effect at the ‘eleventh hour of the eleventh day’ of 1918.

Mark of respect: Lloyds insurance employees observe the silence at a ceremony at the HQ in London

Every generation: A mother hold's her young daughter as she drops a poppy into a fountain (also pictured below) at Castle Square, Swansea

Wearing their poppies with pride,
people joined in the two-minute silence as various commemoration
services and events were held around the country.

But in London the solemn moment was marred by a
small group of protesters styling themselves Muslims Against Crusades,
who burned a model of a poppy.

The protest in Kensington, involved about 30 people.

About 50 counter demonstrators, many from the
far-Right English Defence League, gathered nearby but the two sides
were kept apart by police.

Not forgotten: Lucy Aldridge with her sons George, seven (left) and Archie, five, at Bredenbury War Memorial, Herefordshire, look at the name of her son, Rifleman William Aldridge, who was killed, aged 18, in Afghanistan in 2009

Close to their hearts: Denise Owen and daughter Emma, the mother and
sister of Douglas Halliday (pictured right) who was killed in Afghanistan, attends an
Armistice Day service at Chester Cathedral

Along the route of hereoes: Airmen march past Royal British Legion veterans during a combined homecoming and remembrance Wootton Bassett, where the bodies of Afghanistan's fallen are driven

Tribute: Poppies are thrown into a fountain at Trafalgar Square, central London

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The usually raucous House of Commons fell silent today as MPs, led by Commons Speaker John Bercow, observed the traditional two-minute homage to the nation’s fallen.

Energy and climate change questions were interrupted as all in the Chamber stopped talking, with the silence only broken by Big Ben striking 11.

Proud: Seven-year-old Jonny Osborne, wearing the medals of his great great uncle, Sapper Lawrence Burton attends a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London

With friends: Jonny Osborne pays his respects with other children at the Cenotaph in Whitehall

Hero: Private Johnson Beharry, who won the Victoria Cross, speaks to Defence Secretary Liam Fox at a service of remembrance at the Cenotaph

Tradition: The Cenotaph - near the Houses of Parliament - is Britain's chief war memorial

Allies remember: Prime Minister David Cameron participates in a ceremony in South Korea with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. Ahead of them are Australian (left) and French soldiers

Sounding a call to remember: Andrew Buckley plays the bugle during two minutes silence for Armistice Day held at the National Railway Museum in York

Helping the injured: Julie Dove from the Poppy Appeal attends an Armistice Day service at Chester Cathedral with a member of the 1st Battalion the Mercians who lost his legs in combat

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Commons Leader Sir George Young were among those who came to the Chamber for the event.

On Labour benches shadow foreign secretary Yvette Cooper and former defence minister Kevan Jones were among those marking the anniversary.

The Duke of Edinburgh attended a ceremony without the Queen at Westminster Abbey today, where he met a number of recently berieved, including Lauren Levy, 27, whose former boyfriend Andrew Griffiths, 25, died in Afghanistan in September.

The Queen is due to attend the Remembrance Sunday commemoration at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London.

Odd woman out: French president President Nicolas Sarkozy (2nd R) and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (L)

New allies: German soldiers attend a commemoration in France for the first time at ceremony in Strasbourg

Disgrace: Muslims protesters burn poppies at a Remembrance Day event in Kensington, west London

While memorials are traditionally
held by those countries who fought with the victorious allies, this year
a German army regiment was invited to join a French commemoration in
Strasbourg.

David Cameron,
who is in South Korea, marked the event, which took place nine hours
before Britain due to the time difference, with other world leaders.